> Sure Bob,
> A refugium is like another tank attached to your main tank, by way of an
> overflow and then a return pump. It can be set-up sump style or behind or
> beside the main tank. In the reef side of the hobby they fill them with
> "Macro Algae" basically seaweed and let the seaweed grow and grow until it
> fills up the tank and then they remove some of the seaweed. The idea is
that
> the seaweed in the refugium will remove nitrates from the water. Many
people
> also use things like liverock and live sand in the refugium to increase
> biological filtration even more.
>
> You can set up the same thing in a freshwater tank using quick growing
> plants like hornwort, or anacharis/elodea. Of course in fresh water tanks
> you could also grow the plants in your main tank but if you have big fish
> that can be hard on plants like my bass or African Cichlids this can give
> you an edge.
>
> A real world example is my 220 system I am going to be putting together
next
> year. The tank is made by Perfecto and is 7 feet by 24inches by 30 inches.
> This tank is going to house 1 smallmouth and 1 largemouth bass that I am
> hoping will each grow to around 24" or so (right now they are each 2"
long),
> several yellow bullheads, and perhaps some big bluegill. These are all big
> fish that produce a lot of waste. I am going to build my own stand for
this
> tank to save a major bucks and to hold my refugium. I am going to make it
> out of two sheets of 3/4" Exterior OSB and a bunch of 12" concrete blocks.
> Each sheet of OSB will be cut to 7'x38". This will allow the main tank to
> sit in front and the 55 gallon refugium to sit behind it. One sheet will
be
> on the floor to protect it. On top of that will go 3 rows of 12" concrete
> blocks stacked two high and then on top of them will go the other sheet.
My
> wife is going to make a nice looking curtain to go around the stand. The
> filtration in the main tank will be provided by 2 Emperor 400
powerfilters.
> I will not drill a tank this size so I am going to use a hang-on the back
> tidepool overflow made by Marineland. This overflow will drain into the 55
> gallon tank sitting right behind the main tank. A 55 will work great since
> its about a foot shorter than the 220. The 55 is going to have a reverse
> flow undergravel filter and be filled up with quick growing floating
plants.
> I will probably use hornwort but I am thinking about using hydrilla, I am
> not sure of the legality of using hydrilla however so thats why I am not
> sure. You want to use very fast growing plants here to soak up all the
waste
> in the water which is why hydrilla would be a super choice. To return the
> water back to the main tank I am going to use a Magnum 350 pro filter.
This
> filter comes with a set of bio-wheels and pumps water over them by way of
a
> spraybar. You could also just use a small waterpump here but I want the
> extra filtration and the bio-wheels. By using a canister filter and a
> spraybay above the water line you also do not have to worry about a back
> siphon if the power goes out.
>
> The idea here is to have SUPER bio-filtration provided in this case by 6
> bio-wheels, and the reverse UGF in the 55. These will quickly turn all the
> waste into nitrates which the plants will soak up like a sponge. When I
> harvest the plants I am removing the nitrates, these plants will then go
> into my compost heap and the nitrates will help my garden grow. Also
please
> note I am recommending the use of a lot of Marineland products here. I am
in
> no way affiliated with them I just am very happy with them,
>
> HTH
> Wally
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Bob Bock <bockhouse_at_earthlink.net>
> To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2002 7:38 PM
> Subject: Re: NANFA-- algae filter
>
>
> > Wally, Can you give us some details on the refugium?
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Wally Billingham" <wally_at_wallybillingham.com>
> > To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> > Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 10:38 PM
> > Subject: Re: NANFA-- algae filter
> >
> >
> > > Another great idea "borrowed" from the reef side of the hobby is the
> idea
> > of
> > > a "refugium" to control nitrates and algae problems. I have done it
> using
> > > hornwort and elodea/anacharis. Works great easy to build. Just do a
> search
> > > on the web for refugium and you will be all set. I plan on setting up
a
> 55
> > > gallon refugium on my 220gallon set-up I am planning for next spring.
By
> > > then my smallmouth will have outgrown their 75 and will be ready to
move
> > up
> > > to the 220 where they can grow full size.
> > >
> > > Wally
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: <Moontanman_at_aol.com>
> > > To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 9:06 PM
> > > Subject: NANFA-- algae filter
> > >
> > >
> > > > A few days ago there was a post about building an algae filter. I
have
> > > used
> > > > them in salt water with great success and I have also found that
fast
> > > growing
> > > > plants like hornwort will allow you to keep an aquarium with little
or
> > no
> > > > filtration. emergent plants like cattails or water hyacinths will do
> an
> > > even
> > > > better job of maintaining water quality. All it takes is an intense
> > light
> > > > source and a little time and we could forget about filters and just
> run
> > > air
> > > > pumps. A sedimentation type tank can be used to settle out
> particulates.
> > > > Using a system with no filtration allows for a more natural plankton
> > > > population and freshwater clams will thrive on detritus.
> > > >
> > > > Moon
> > > --
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-- > /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily > / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes > / Association" > / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association > / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word > / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to > / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to > / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. > / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org /----------------------------------------------------------------------------- /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes / Association" / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org